Tank gauge



Petented July 2 1940 f i i h u i `-UNTED STATES ,EPATENT OFFICIEL` h TANK GAUGE J oseph M. Olsen, C'oeur` d'Alene, ildho t Aypieatiou 1\"T``veml: e 8, 19 3 9,`Seria1 No. .303,417

` 9 Claims. (m e-321) t This `ihvention relates tomprovements in a. showing my device installed in connection With tark gauge of the type eniployed for indicatirg a eonventionaltank and its filler pipe,

the liqud level intsuchtcontaihers forthe pur- Figurej` 2 is a\ Vertical longitudinal sectiorai poses ofmeauri g the quantity of fluid. View taken through a filler p p taken Onlines My inyention is ada t ble for many and Vari& Z-lof Fi ra showing the p t of my a e 5 ous uses and for thetpurposes of this description mechanism; h h h i i l ihave shown amd` Will descrbe the device as Figure 3`is a, horizontal sectional View taken on though it were installed in aj`buriec tenk, asfor lines 3-3 of Fi ure 2, u i, i stence,` at fa gasetatonl I do not wish to be h F gura is a. plan view of t t p O thetgage limited `by this :showing for the reason"` that, mechanism h h h t loroadiygmy invention relates to the gauge mech- Figure is a diagrammatic vew similar to that anism ahd itscariageor mount h h of F'gure 1, but with a; gauge mechansm and its i ;t s wepknown that gasolina storage tanks cerriage raised to the filling poston'froh a filler etservice Stations are seldom emptied of all their pipeend t i h\ t i t i contents, t the custom` being to always leawe a, u 6 is a longitudnal View taken on a plane quantity ot fluid in the bottom\ of the tenk. t r ght nel to` t e howin of Fg rez nd [This remander has` a variabie level ahd ranes V which t ap nd" its support are shown` in ihgdepth`fromone or twodnohesup to substano ec on. t i

tielly atfulltark. ltmi eistomary in measuring The lrumerel` lo desi a es a ta in a "the depthgof the fluid remaining in the tenk q t y o a iq d t ll theren and extendi 20 to fus measuring stick twhohmust be kept at `f om its upper edge is a filler pipe !2. The pipe bomtrremotewhflcm "the tank and" always Iz is threaded at: |3, and'at' encircl'ing eollafl |4 flecessitates opening the tahk in order to get is Secured thereom t h Il ;measurement Ipropose to provide an accurate i On the pp e -S` the 001131' I D 5 readihg f a, tanktcontentstetfal times without V e o st ndin a s !5 IG. The p n p the hoesity of outside devis and regardless of\ 1 avin sp c rs IB, is vo v uppo ted i "the tenk being closed or open for filling and dur- Oh he e r |5 y; means thepivotpn I 9. The

i gfiumg; h h h i t i h ar 20 On the opposite side of the cap l' has a,

"t ti nimportant object of my inventionEto central o n ng l gwh h re ist rs W the p a rol ler supported gaugtape having a, `ing` 22 of'theear IE for the reoeption ofebad- 30 float *on cmeQe d which "may be raised and low- 10Cki i h ered'as the vumefor the liqud i the contairer u i An a nular t apered ang 231 formed onthe fariesand a Weightat thetother end of the tape upper end of "the p p z and gauge hp0rting "to keeb thegauge takpe taut over the roller. plate 24 e ges this fiange 5', and y` t- It is a further object of my inventionto proing reozr pp ts t e gauge echanism to be 35 vdea movable earriage for the gauge tape; its d ri e Gap h ah t n tpered rolierfalnd the necessary `supports, which can be Q e 5 which fits over the plate 24 when the h `s`o osedthatt e filling `ho`s`e ay readily and n lo ed po i io s h wrin Figure 2, to

esljbused to fill the ten h i form a istur ti ht connection.` h h h I 0 h ;imamet ohjecthof my invention is to h provide Theinmheral 25 Q ig a an ObSCVatOH W `lo`el c i n g rr ems for enolosing the guge mechaf- OW that 15 fi d h opemflg the pp nism `of my invention, which at the same time face of the Gap n n 1 Tetamed po tion i i by means of the bezel ring 21. t t t\ I k- 1 u i i permts a reading to be taken without un oc h Onthemnr orunderace of the fiapged plate ing the device. h t h t i i i t vide a devce of the natureudescribed which may axle i .Oi er an Teadfly installed in au types of commercial A gauge tape 32 laysover the upper half of the tankswith simplicitytand Without materalaltr" u roller 30 and on one of the ends a. float 33 is etion of the conventonal structures now used. Secured A`wight 34 on t other end f t t In the drawings Wherein `I have dsclosed a pre-` gauge Srvs tokeep the a taut overethie roller ferred` embodi ent Of y inventon; like humer- 130. A` tube mighaving` an elongated filler opening a ls are used to designate like `p t throughout 36, is Secured to the plate 24`and dependsitherethe same. t i h i i i "from, ntiluears 37 on the upper end o"f the tube 5? Figure 1 is somewhat of `ai diagrammatic view pass through suitable operiings in the baseplate of the present invention could be found extremely the 'Window 26.

.three or more brands of gasoline.

for the reception oi the outwardly turned ende 33 of a bale 33, The diameter of the roller `is slightly greater than that of the tube and the tape as it leaves the roller passes downwardly outside of the tube. By means of a pair of `flangecl guides 43 secured in spaced relaticn to each other along each of opposite sides of the tube, the tape ie guided and is kept away from the inner wall of the pipe li to eliminate wear or harm to the tape and its indicating markings.

A pointer M is shown in Figure 2 to be located near. the lower end of the tube 35, and painters s 42 on the upper face of the plate 24 also serve to indicate the reading point on the tape.

Spring blades 43-43 are secured on opposite sides of the tube near its lower end by means of the rivets 44, and the blades 43` have outstanding spurs 45, operable for a purpose to be` later' described.

'The tape 32 is of the nature of the currently popular measuring and gauge tapes, which in the normal condition are arcuate in cross-section, as shown in' Figure 3. It will be apparent that by the' use of this tape, the graduations on' its reading face will be protected from abrasion against the surfaces near which it must pass as out of its closed position to the position of Fig'ure 6 and. by grasping the bale 39, the gauge roller and the tube 35 may be raised or withdrawn 'from the pipe i2 and it is' customary to lift the device only so far as is necessary to` permit the spurs'45 on 'the springs 43 to flex outwardly and engage the upper top face of the flange 23. In this manner the ,tube 35 is supported exterior of `'and above the pipe !2, but with the gauge tape and its fioat and weight in the proper ope'rable J position within the tank. 4.5

'serves to keep the' tape tight has been raised somewhat with relation to the float and that the It should be understood that the weight which point on the tape, which in the position shown in Figure 2 is under the pointers 42, will now be 'located down on the side of the tube 35 and under the pointer 4l.

The usual filler nozzle may be inserted into the opening %and gas or other liquid placed into the tank in the usual manner'. As the liquid flows `in and the'float 33 rises farther above the bottomof the tank, the tape also will rise, rolling over the roller 30 until the tube 35 is returned "to the position in Figur 2. Readings will still be taken at the pointer 4l. When the tank has been filled as `much as is' desired, the operator may grasp the springs 43, causing them to lie `'more flatly against the side of the tube 35 and thus disengaging the spurs 45 from the upper end of the tankfand he may lower the tube and gauge mechanism into the pipe !2, of course closing and looking the cap as before.

operation The present-day type of automobile gas service station would be a good example where the device useful. r I

,Such stations usually supply the public with Ordinance requrements necessitate the burying of the service tanks with the filler pipes extending to some point immediately above the ground for the purpose of supplying the tanks with liquid fuel when needed. At the present time only an approximate determination of the number of gallons of liquid contained in a tank can be had.

This is accomplished through' a gauge stick that has to be inserted through the filler pipe and down into the tank. Many Stations, how-` ever, operate on a twenty-fourhour a. day basis. This requires three shifts of station attendants and, in order to account for the amount of gallonage dispensed by each Shift, an accurate read- 'ing of the contents of the' tanks is necessary.

It is time-consuming to follow the present-day i method of roughly estimating the gallonage, and

.it is further necessary to secure an accurate reading so that as one shift leaves for the day, the one coming on can also make a ready reading through the window in the present device and determine accurately how many gallons they had on hand when when the Shift came in' charge, insuring that proper records can be kept, and in the case of shortage, that a close check can be had upon the operation of the business.

When a tank is to he filled, it is proper to'take a reading of the contents, then unlock and throw the capand raise the filler tube until itrests upon the spurs 45. The tape will have moved so that *the accurate reading can now be determind upon the side of the tube at the pointer il. The servicing tank wagon can then depositin the tank whatever amount may be orderedgor to fill the tank without the possibilityof overfiowing so long as the gauge is watched.

Since the tube 35 is somewhat smaller than theinside diameter of the pipe !2, ample space is provided to allow the escape of air in the filling tank to insure that there will not be an interv. ruption of the full Volume of flow from the tank through the filling hose and nozzle. When this operation of filling is complete, the gauge structure may be lowered into the pipe IZ, the cap the'c'ap.

I'have adopted the use of an arcuate tape as heretofore described, which I have found flat-` tens, when it passes over the, roller 30 and does notinterrupt the free action of the fioat and of v the tape and of the weightattached to the opposite end of the tape. The arcuate surface, however nsures that only the back side of the tape and the outer front edges thereof will have frietional engagement with any part of the device `I claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. In a tank gauge, the combination with a graduated tape having anoperating fioat and a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate adapted to rest uponthe upper edge of the filler opening of the tank, a roller journaled onsaid plate adapted to 'carry the graduated tape, a` tube depending from said plate and having a side filler opening ancla pair of longitudinal guide ways `on ether side of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape, said tube being mov- 'able outwardly of the tank filler opening,- and supporting means adjacent the lower end of the refitted and locked, therefrom reading at all stages may be made through the window in tube cooperable Withthe upper face of the tank filler opening when the tube is in the extended position. i i

2. In a tankgauge, the combination with graduated tape having an Operating flcat and a counter-Weight therefor, of a supporting plate adapted to rest upon the upperedge of the fillor opening of the tank, journal supports depending from said plate, a roller journaled in said supports adapted tocarry the graduated tapewith a portion thereof extending above the upper face of the supporting plate, a tube depending from said plate and having a side lier opening and a pair of longitudinal guide ways on either side of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape, said tube being movable outwardly of the tank filler opening, andsupporting means adjacent the lower end of thetube cooperable with the upper face of the tani: filler opening When the tube is in the extended position.

3. In a tank gauge; the `combination with a graduated `tape having an Operating hoat end a counter-Weight therefor, of a supporting plate having a pair of slots and adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the filler opening of the tank, a roller journaled on said plate adapted tocarry the graduated tape, a tube depending from said plate and having a side filier opening and a pair i of longitudinal guide ways on either side of the opening to receive and guide thegraduated tape, said tube beingmovable outwardly of the tanlr` filier opening, ears on the upper end of said tube passing through the slots in the supporting plate,

` plate adapted to Carry the graduated tape, a tube 45 i i Ia bale Secured for pivotal movement in said ears,`

and supporting means adjacent the lower end of thetube cooperable with the upper `face of the tank filler opening when the tube is `in the extended position.

4:. In a tank gauge, the combination with a `graduated tape having an Operating float and` a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate' adapted to rest upon the upper edge of a fiiler opening of the tank, a roller journaled on said depending from said plate and having a side filler opening and a pair of longitudinal guide ways on either side of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape, said tube being movable out- `wardly `of the tank filler opening, and spring 50` lower end of thetube cooperable with the upper face of the tank filler opening when the tube` fingers having outstanding Spurs adjacent the is in the extended position.

5. In a tank gauge, the combination with a graduated tape having an Operating float and a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate having a transverse opening, a roller journaled on said plate and passing through the transverse i opening and carrying the graduated tape, pointers on said plate adjacent the path of the graduated tape, a tube depending from said plate and i having a side fillor opening and a pair of longitudinal guide ways on eitherside of the opening` to receive and guide the graduated tape, said` tube being movable outwardly of the tank filler` opening, and supporting` means i adjacent the lower end of the tube cooperable with the upper face of the tank fillor opening when the tube is in the extended position.

6. In a tank gauge, the combination with a` graduated tape having an Operating float and a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the fillor opening of the tenk, a roller journaled on said piate adapted to carry the graduated tape,a tube.

` depending froni said plate andhavng a side filier opening and two pairs of opposed guide flanges Secured longitudinally of said tube on either side `of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape, said tube being novable outwardly of the tank fiiler opening, and supporting means adja'cent the `lower end of the tube cooperable with the upper face of the tank' filier opening" When the tube is in the extended position.

7. In a tank gauge, the combination with a graduated tape having an Operating fioat and a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the iler opening of the tank, a 'roller journaled on said means adjacent` the `lower end of the tube coop-` erable with the upper face of the tank iier opening when the tube is in` the extended position, and closure means associated with said tani: adapted to enclose and secure the supporting plate in its unextended position upon the upper edge of the tank filleropening.

i 8. In a tank gauge, the combination with a graduated tape havingan arcuate cross-section and having an Operating ,float and a counterweight therefor, of a supporting plateadapted to rest upon the` upperedge of the filler opening of the. tank, a roller journaled on said plate adapted to Carry the graduated tape, a tube depending from said plate and having a side filler opening and a pair of `longit'uo'linal guide ways on either side `of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape,` said tube being movable outwardly of the tank filler opening, and supporting means adjacentthe lower end of the tube cooperable with the upper face of the tank filler opening when the tube is in the extendedposition.`

9. In a tank gauge, the combination with a graduated tape having an Operating fioat and a counter-weight therefor, of a supporting plate adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the filler opening of the tenk, a roller journaled on said plate adapted to Carry the graduated tape, a tube depending from said plate and having a side fi11`er opening and a pair of longtudinal guide ways' on either side of the opening to receive and guide the graduated tape, said tube being movable `outwardly of the tank filler opening, pointed means on the guide ways, and supporting means adjacent the lower end of the tube cooperable withthe upper face of the tank filler opening when the tube is "in the extended position.

JOSEPH M. OLSON. 

